Tuesday, September 30, 2008

As I am waiting for the green light's permission to cross Del Monte Ave to go to the wharf I position myself behind the metal pole holding the street lights. I watch the cars speeding by, drivers drinking coffee, talking on cell phones, looking somewhere else. The pole will protect me if a car swerves in my direction.

Once again I do cross the six lanes of traffic, walking quickly as the countdown flashes on the signal.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

The silence of the retreat was interrupted by the blasts of thunder from the performing airplanes high in the sky. You couldn't actually see the planes, only hear that they had been here. It's the air show in Salinas with hot shot pilots creating huge noise.

The day of silence went well. We sat, ate, listened to talks and then sat some more. Now I am home and want to watch movies.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Went to Safeways in Carmel to buy the 6 year old's birthday cake. I should now call her the 7 year old. She had very specific requests about this cake and I couldn't find exactly what she wanted so I bought what was there. I wonder how flexible this young lady will be.

On the way home I was following a very dirty station wagon, I couldn't tell what color it was. I assumed it had just come from Tassajara because that is how my car looks when I come back. I spun this fantasy for a while until I almost hit the car.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

I was up before dawn this morning. dawn is later and later with each day. If I insist on going to bed at 9, then I have to accept waking up in the dark.

Went to see BURN AFTER READING at the PG theater in an almost empty theater in the late afternoon. I couldn't get any of my friends to come with me. I think the movie might be better if there were more people in the building. It was good enough

Sunday, September 21, 2008

We sit around the Zen Center library table. Four of us committed to meeting every week. And yet as we look at our date books we can't find dates that work for everyone. We are all too busy and unable or maybe unwilling to give up anything. We want to just add more and more to our lives.

I do the same. I want to do everything and yet my body gets tired and cranky and eventually finds a way to say no.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

The lobby of the hospital today was wet, buckets were collecting drips from the ceiling. A staff person said that water had accumulated on the roof and now was leaking. But we have had no rain for many months. it's a mystery. I walk around the buckets and wet rugs to get my job done.

Today I noticed the wonderful water color pictures on the walls, awash with blues and sky and clouds and hills. The art is donated and it is an honor to have one's work hung. Today I loved the art.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Sitting in the lobby with it's large pond and fountains, skylights, koi fish, soft chairs, cafe, gift store, it is easy to forget that I am in a hospital until a white bed on wheels is rolled by with a person huddled under the blankets.

An orderly smoothly pushes the bed and the IV pole and equipment across the open space. We try not to stare at the person in the bed to support privacy in this very public community area. There is suffering in this place.

Sunny fall day, red sky in the morning before sitting at the Cherry Center. Spent several hours at the local hospital seeing sick people then came home and took a nap. The sun is still shinning, a little nip of coolness in the air.

I am committed to decreasing the amount of stuff I have in my rooms but not today, it's too beautiful.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Early morning walk on waterfront. Men were gathered around the unloading dock. Something was wrong, The Sardines were half unloaded on the chute. I overheard something about the ice machine not working. Trucks, the large plastic containers, fish were all waiting for something to happen. I kept walking.

Twice this morning I saw people driving holding their cell phones to their ears. Haven't they heard it is illegal now to do that.

Monday, September 15, 2008

After listening to the bad economic news this afternoon I went outside and watered my drought resistant garden. Even these plants needed water. The fog was just returning. The 5pm bugle was playing at the Army base.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Another foggy day. Went to meet with a friend in the afternoon at the Works in Pacific Grove. We were going to write. Usually we meet in the mornings, 2pm in the afternoon, my body wants to lie down. But we did write for awhile and then we just sat around and talked to each other.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

I love the word Twitter, the social networking system among young people. I read the New York Times magazine article about Twitter and now I can't stop talking about it.

I think it is so clever. Answering the question, what are you doing right now. Right now I am typing on my key board and I am hungry.

I don't know anyone who twitters but now I am asking everyone I know, particularly parents of teen agers. But the parent don't seem to know if their kids twitter. Maybe I will find someone to talk to about this new communication tool.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Went for a regular doctor's appointment to check on my meds and my blood tests. This is all familiar as I get older, monitoring, reminding me to take care of myself and basically I am healthy.

Waiting in the waiting room at the clinic I suddenly became afraid that I would catch something bad from the families waiting with me. Lots of little kids. They didn't look sick but I don't want to catch the latest pre school colds and flus.

So I found the bathroom and scrubbed my hands. And I kept my distance all the time scolding myself for being so fearful.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

The eight year old and the six year old spent the night at my house. We watched a scary movie called Matilda. They kept saying it was not that scary but I thought it was. It had a happy ending, thank goodness.

Another hot day. windows and doors are open. Where is that fog I saw yesterday in the bay.